Business school leaders from around the world converge in Honolulu for AACSB convention

Shidler College of Business to host opening reception at Hawaii Convention Center

HONOLULU — More than 1,200 deans, business educators and corporate leaders from over 40 countries will be in Honolulu to attend The International Conference and Annual Meeting of theAACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business from Sunday, April 13 through Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

"This is the first time AACSB has held its international convention in Hawaiʻi," said V. Vance Roley, Dean of the UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business. "Strategically located between the east and west, Hawaiʻi offers business leaders and educators a glimpse of the world through our multicultural and multilingual population, internationally-friendly environment, and prevailing Asian culture. Hawaiʻi is one of the best places to broaden your international perspective."

The AACSB Conference will feature speakers Gary Hamel, one of America‘s most influential business thinkers in business strategy and management, and part-time Hawaiʻi resident David C.Cole, CEO of Maui Land & Pineapple, a land holding and operating company in Hawaiʻi. Cole will speak on Hawaiʻi‘s business opportunities and challenges on Monday, April 14 at 8 a.m. atthe Hawaii Convention Center, 4th Floor.

Cole spent over 25 years in a variety of industries, including publishing, computer software, communications, online services and organic foods. Most notably, he was an executive with America Online and director of the Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund. Cole graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi in 1975.

AACSB International is an association of more than 1,100 educational institutions, businesses and other organizations in 70 countries that are dedicated to the advancement of business education worldwide. AACSB International is the longest serving and largest global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master‘s, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. The association also is the business education community‘s professional development organization, conducting a wide array of conference and seminar programs at various locations around the world.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Shidler College of Business is the only graduate program in the State of Hawaiʻi accredited by AACSB International.